Simon Carr

Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography

Dr Simon J Carr

Research Areas:

My research examines the interactions between climate, glaciers and landscape on short to long timescales. Much of this research is directed towards reconciling the climatic and glaciological modelling of ice-mass behaviour with the geomorphological and sedimentary evidence of recent and Quaternary glaciation. I also undertake work on the communication of science, notably with respect to climate change.

1: DEFORMATION, MICROMORPHOLOGY & MICROFABRIC OF SUBGLACIAL SEDIMENTS;
My main research expertise focuses on the applications of thin-section micromorphology in analysing former glacial dynamics. I have led developments in the production of thin sections of glacigenic sediments, and the development of criteria for discriminating between subglacial and glacimarine sediments. My research examines the potential of microfabric analysis for providing a detailed reconstruction of the strain history of tills to validate different models of predicted glacial dynamics. This approach is used to examine models of ice sheet stability, including for example the presence and significance of fast ice flow, and I am currently developing a collaborative research programme to examine the changes in sediment strain at ice-stream shear margins.
In collaboration with: Prof. Jim Rose, Dr Adrian Palmer (RHUL), Prof. Jaap van der Meer (QMUL), Dr Chris Stokes (Durham), Dr John Hiemstra (Swansea), Dr Jeff Evans (Loughborough).

2: LATE QUATERNARY GLACIATION OF NORTHWEST EUROPE;
Understanding the nature, dynamics and history of glaciation through the Quaternary period is essential for understanding of the implications of recent, current and future climate change. Research has focused on two key areas of interest. Firstly, interpreting the glacial history of the North Sea is central to developing a better understanding of the relationship of the climatically unstable British ice sheet with the much larger and more stable Fennoscandian ice sheet. With the recent publication of an ice sheet configuration, my focus is shifting to examining the chronology of the last glacial cycle. Secondly, the mountainous regions between the edge of the Quaternary Scandinavian ice sheets and the European Alps are of great significance in understanding the nature and synchronaeity of regional glaciation, and also for regional climate reconstruction. Finally, I am developing my record of work on mountain glaciation of Wales (see below) to examine ice-sheet deglaciation.
In collaboration with: Dr Adrian Parker (Oxford Brookes), Prof. Jan Kalvoda, Dr Zbynek Engel (Charles Univ. Prague), Prof. Jim Rose, Dr Adrian Palmer (RHUL), Prof. Hans Petter Sejrup (Bergen), Dr Adrian Humpage (BGS).

3: TOPOCLIMATIC CONTROLS OVER MARGINAL GLACIATION;
Glaciers are considered by the IPCC to be the most sensitive indicators of climate change. It is therefore critical to understand the topoclimatic controls over mountain glaciation when using contemporary or former glaciers as climate proxies. This research focuses on the examination of climatic and topographic controls over modern glacier mass-balance on a small ice-cap. This research informs new methods of glacier reconstruction that may be used to understand past palaeoclimatic conditions. Using Younger Dryas glaciation of Wales as a test-bed, this research is moving towards the development of spatially-distributed models of glacier mass-balance and dynamics, providing more robust reconstructions of the dynamics and controls over former ‘marginal’ glaciation, in regions such as the high Drakensberg of Southern Africa, as well as NW Europe.
In collaboration with: Dr David Evans (Durham) Dr Richard Hodgkins (Loughborough), Dr Dave Horne, Dr Sven Lukas, Dr Stephanie Mills (QMUL), Prof. Stefan Grab (Wits, South Africa)

Last updated at 5:45 on 18/12/2008 by Simon Carr.

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